"The mining industry is confronted with a very challenging environment," said Kraig Naasz [3], the new head of the U.S. industry lobby group National Mining Association [4] (NMA). In response to high-profile mining disasters, increased rates of black lung disease, and concerns about climate change [5], among other issues, the NMA will likely "dramatically increase its lobbying and advertising budget." Its overall budget will increase from $15.6 million for 2007 to $19.7 million for 2008. NMA's two political action committee [6]s, CoalPAC and MinePAC, "are moving towards a more even split" between the two major parties, after years of giving nearly 90 percent of its PAC money to Republicans. NMA is also "looking to add a Democratic consultant to its list of outside lobbyists," which includes the Alpine Group and the Nickles Group. NMA is also hiring four more in-house lobbyists and "two additional regulatory experts." Among other bills, NMA opposes the Miller [7]-Rahall [8] bill, which would strengthen safety regulations and "apply royalty fees to hard rock-mining operations" on federal lands.